WWI Puttees
The puttees, also known as spiral puttees, were a type of legging used by ground troops during World War One. The name was derived from the Hindi “Patti” bandage, which was wrapped from the ankle to below the knee. The puttee was designed to be wrapped around the lower part of the leg, starting on the top part of the shoe and ending below the knee, overlapping itself as it spiraled up the leg. There were two main purposes of the puttee, which was to protect the lower leg from weather and debris, and also provided support for marches or long periods of time on foot. The puttee was primarily made from a long piece of wool, hemmed on both edges, with one pointed end with a strip of tape sewn onto it that would tuck into the top of the puttee when worn, and keep the puttee closed when rolled for storage.
The trousers worn by soldiers and Marines accommodated the wearing of both puttees and leggings in their design. The lower half of each leg ending below the knee was tight to the wearer’s calf, much like the skinny jeans of today. Near the bottom was either two rows of grommets with a lace or buttons to ensure a tight fit. Once worn, the puttees easily wrapped around the wearer’s leg without having to deal with extra material giving the wrapped leg a bulky appearance.
American Militaria Reference
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